Accepting One's Body

Joan Brumberg’s chapter, “Body Projects,” transitions smoothly into Alisa Valdes article, “Ruminations of a Feminist Fitness Instructor.” Mrs. Valdes shares her experience as a feminist aerobics instructor. She explains that women should feel free to eat whatever they want whenever they want. Mrs. Valdes clarifies that she has seen too many problems with weight and dieting issues throughout her career as an aerobics instructor. Societal biases too often make women believe that they should look similar to the American doll, Barbie. The author explains the falseness behind this assumption “If a woman of Barbie’s proportions existed, she wouldn’t be able to walk, breathe or digest food” (Valdes 26). Throughout the article the author expresses disapproval with her own career path. She feels that she has betrayed her gender by not fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a feminist writer. The reader may often feel empathetic for her because she has not been able to accomplish this feat. It was not until the end of her work that I made the connection that she wrote the article in which I was reading. She has successfully accomplished her goal of becoming a feminist writer.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of gyms and group classes? On one hand, these places provide an atmosphere that inspires motivation, participation, and friendship. On the other side of the spectrum, these arenas are often breading grounds for eating disorders and self-abuse. Alisa Valdes explains that atmosphere that exists within her classes. “Anorexics fill my classes like worshipers in a church, and no one stares. Other instructors starve themselves and do cocaine for energy with a regularity that would surprise many of their admires” (Valdes 31). Women, as well as men, need to be more accepting of their own bodies. Until biases within society decrease, eating disorders will continue to persist.

Anne Fausto-Sterling analyzes menstruation, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), and menopause, within her chapter, “Hormonal Hurricanes: Menstruation, Menopause, and Female Behavior.” She offers past research that analyzed PMS but explains that more credible studies are needed that offers a more accurate understanding of the female population. Previous research concluded that women’s potentials were limited because of physical and psychological factors. Scientist of the 1800s argued that the rigor of education would cause serious damage to women’s reproductive systems, citing women who could not bear children because they chose the education path that was commonly allotted to men. The truth is that without women and their menstruation cycles, the population would cease to exist. Menstruation symptoms in all women are not the same. One must recognize that one size does not fit all. Therefore, it seems naïve to believe that all women classify under a similar branch. Just as it would be naïve to believe that all men share identical attributes. Near the end of her chapter Fausto-Sterling clarifies that testosterone, in normal amounts, if often beneficial to the male population but at too high of a level antisocial behaviors often result. Studies need to provide an understanding of one’s body instead of criticism of it.